Category: Scuba Q&A

SCUBA Q&A Question: I was taught that “recreational divers plan all dives to be no stop dives” and also that most agencies consider 40m /130 feet as the maximum depth for recreational deep diving. That seems inconsistent when my dive computer allows me to dive below 40m/130 feet and still stay inside no-stop limits . Why […]

SCUBA Q&A: QUESTION: I am a recreational diver and I dive mostly with my husband. Our relationship issues (bickering) caused me stress. Is this a factor I should consider when scuba diving? Andy’s Answer: I know of at least one diving fatality that could otherwise have been avoided if intra-relationship dispute and/or the associated stress […]

SCUBA Q&A QUESTION: I need some advice; I have been told to use your BCD for buoyancy control instead of your dry suit. I have also been told the opposite. Which option is best, or does it really matter? Andy’s Answer: PADI teaches drysuit primary buoyancy on their recreational specialty. Then at tech level, they change […]

SCUBA Q&A: Question: On my Open Water course, I was taught to drop my weight belt in an emergency. What situations would merit dropping my weights? I am naturally concerned that dropping weights will lead to a rapid ascent to the surface. Andy’s Answer: There is one primary ‘trigger’ moment when the diver should […]

Technical Wreck Penetration – A Question Of Experience by Andy Davis I often get asked how many dives should a technical wreck diver have before they undertake serious wreck penetration dives at depth. It’s hard to answer, because it is a very individual question; which deserves more than a simple numerical answer. I can dive […]